Staple-driving machine



Mar. 27, 1923.

J. MUTH.

STAPLE DRIVING MACHINE.

FILED NOV-10.1921.

him-am '12 I IZIIIJIIIIII IN VEN TOR.

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Mar. 27, 1923.

UNITED STATES JOHN MUTE, OF NORWALK, COMPANY, or NORWALK,

CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

TO THE E. H. HOTCHKISS STAPLE-DRIVING MACHINE.

Application filed November 10, 1921.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN MUTH, a citizen of the United States, county of F airfield, State of Connecticut, have invented an Improvement in Staple- Driving Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to staple driving machines and more particularly to that type (nown as staple strip machines wherein each staple at the time it is driven, is severed from a strip of integrally connected staples which is fed forwardly at each operation of the machine to bring the staples successively into a position to be driven.

A particular object of the invention is to provide a machine of this type with means for straightening out a staple, should it be bent out of position prior to the severing operation, so that it will be properly positioned for severing and driving.

Afurther object of the invention is to provide improved means for holding each staple as it is severed from the strip, to prevent its turning during the severing operation, to guide the staple after it has been severed to prevent its turning and wedging in the throat of the machine, to prevent clogging of the machine and to insurestraight driving of each staple.

With the foregoing and other objects in view I have devised the improved mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which 3 Fig. l is a sectional side elevation through the casing of the machine showing the mechanism enclosed thereby in side elevation with the plunger in raised position.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the plunger in its lower position.

F ig. 3 is a view similar to Figs. 1 and 2 showing the parts in the positions they occupy immediately after the plunger has been raised from the position shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a perspective View of the staple straightening and holding device, and the staple strip guiding bar or rail to which this device is attached, it being, however, shown separated therefrom.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the lifting slide for the straightening and holding member.

residing at Nor-walk,-

Serial No. 514,282.

Fig. 6 is a transverse section through the front portion of the machine substantially on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 7 is a View similar to Fig. 6 substantially on the line 77 of Fig. 2.

On the top of the base 10, adjacent the rear end thereof, are provided a pair of spaced ears 11 between which is pivotally mounted the staple guiding bar or rail 12, by means of a suitable pin 13. At the forward end of the base'is the provided with the staple clinching recesses The rail or solid T-shaped rail but I referably construct it of sheet metal, as s own, the midsection of the .sheet forming the top 16 and bent downwardly to form the'sides' 17, the lower edges of these sides being bent upon themselves to form the upwardly extending spacing members 18. The forward end is provided with aslightly projecting cutting edge 19, and the rear or inlet end for the staple strip is preferably tapered or curved,

as shown at 20, to straighten the legs 21- on insertion of the staple strip should any of these legs be bent toward each other transversely of the strip.

The staple straightening and holding device 22 is provided ad 'acent its rear end with downwardly extending spaced legs 23, adapted to straddle the rail or bar 12 and be pivoted thereto adjacent the lower edge thereof by means of a suitable pivot 24. This member is provided at its forward end with a pair of downwardly extending spaced fingers 25, connected with the body of the device by longitudinally extending members 26, which are provided on their lower edges wit-h downwardly extending non-return lugs 27, adapted to engage a staple on the strip, and to prevent backward movement of the strip during the severing operation, or backward movement of the feeding device presently to be described. Mounted on the member 22 between the supports 26 for the fingers 25, is a lifting slide 28 for the straightening member 22.- This member is preferably formed'from sheet metal shaped substantial'ly as shown in Fig. 5, with spaced horizontally extending side -members 29 curved at their forward ends on the upper side thereof at 30, and connected by a yoke end thereof with coact with the lug 46 carried by 31. These side outwardly projecting 32, adapted to engage the top and bottom edges of members 26 to support the slide 28 thereon, and allow it to slide longitudinally thereof. A lug 61 is provided on the member 22, and a compression spring 62 is mounted between [his lug and the yoke 31 of the slide 28, and tends to move this slide forwardly on the members 26.

The casing 35 members are provided with vertically extending guideways 36 separated by ribs 37, in whichthe plunger 38 is mounted to slide, this plunger being substantially H-shaped in cross section as shown in Fig. 6. The lower end of the plunger is provided with a cutting edge 39, adapted to coact with the edge 19 pro ecting from the end of the bar 12, to sever a staple from the strip upon downward movement of the plunger.

The staple strip mounted in a yoke 40 having dling the bar 12, and secured thereto by any suitable means such as a rivet 41. ThlS yoke extends upwardly above the bar an pivotally mounted therein, by any suitable means such as a screw 42, is a cam-plate 43 provided with upper and lower forwardly projecting cam-lugs 44 and 45, adapted to the plungler o feeding mechanism is to oscillate the cam-plate on its pivot.

the lower end of the cam-plate is pivoted a feeding pawl 47 having fingers 48 adapted to engage the staples of the strip to feed the same forwardly on the supporting bar 12. A spring 49 engages the feed pawl and :1. lug 50 onthe cam-plate and tends to press the free ends of the fingers 48 downwardly in engagement with the staple strip. A second spring 51 is connected to the top of the cam-plate and a rearward projection 52 on yoke 40, and tends to move the feed pawl forwardly. Extending forwardly of the yoke are spaced fingers 53 straddling the plate 54 carrying the lug 46, and carrying a pin 55 extending through an elongated opening 56 in the plate 54 to provide a limit stop for movement of th'el plunger. Plate 54 is preferably of considerable thickness and is let into the rear 0 the plunger. A spring 57 embraces the upward portion of the plunger projecting from the casing, and coacts with the top of the casing and the under side of the knob or disc 59 secured to the top of the plunger to hold the plunger in its upper position. On opposite sides of the plate 54 the plunger is provided with recesses 60 to receive the free ends of the sides 29 of the liftingslide 28 to .raise the staple and straightening del vice 22 as will presently be described.

'holda spring 34 resting at On the top of the member 22 isprovided an upwardly extending stud 33 adapted to its upper end top and bottom lugs is provided in the forward legs stradthe inner wall of the casing. This spring tends to force the fingers 25 wardly turning the member 22 about its pivot 24. The operation of the device is as follows:

A staple strip is inserted in the rear end of the machine in the usual manner wit the free legs 21 of the staple straddling the upper half of the rail or bar 12, passes between the legs 23 of the staple straightening device 22 and under this device and between the legs of the yoke 40. Assuming the elements are in the position shown in Fig. 1, a blow on the disc or knob 59 will force the plunger downwardly cutting off the staple 63 projecting into the rear guide 36 of the casing between the ribs 37 and the fingers 25 of the member 22. Further against downward movement of the plunger will carry this staple downwardly in the rear guideway 36, and this staple will be prevented from turning by the ribs 36 and fingers 25, so that when it reaches the paper on the anvil it will be in the proper position for clinching. When the pluriger reaches its lower position, as shown in ig 2, the ends of the slide 29 of the lifting slide 28 will enter the recesses 60 of the plunger under the action of the sparing 62 which moves this slide forwardly. emoval of the pressure on the knob 59 will allow the plunger to rise under the action of the spring 57 to the position shown in Fig. 3, and the bottom walls of the recesses 60 will raise the forward end of the straightening bar 22 and the fingers 25, by lifting on the under side of the free ends 30 of the lifting slide 28, raisin the member to the position shown in Tig. 3. In this position the free ends 30 of the slide 28 move from the recesses 60, and the lug 46 on the plunger engages the cam-lug 44 and tends to assist the spring 51 in swinging the camplate 43 on its pivot, and through the feed pawl 47, in feeding the staple strip forwardly to bring the next staple into the guide36 at the rear of the ribs 37. As the ends of the slide '28 leave the recesses 60, the spring 34'pres'ses the member 22 downwardly, and the fingers 25 between thelegs f of the end staple and the next adjacent staple, and should the legs of this staple be bent toward the legsof the next adjacent staple, they will be bent to the vertical or proper position for severing and driving. After the free ends 30 of the slide 28 leave the recesses 60 they no longer hold the fingers 25 in raised position because the slide 28 is free to move backwardly under the camming action of these free ends on the rear side of the plunger. now in position for driving and the cycle may be repeated. If thelower end of the plunger'is above the curved ends 30 when it is in its upper position, as itxis moved The next staple is down- 1 downwardly for the staple severing and driving operation, the cam action of the lower end thereof on the curve of the ends 30 will move the member 28 backwardly on the member 22.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that this device provides an automatically operated mechanlsm for straightening and properly posit on ng the individual staples, and also for holding the staple during the severing operation to revent turning thereof about the cutting e ge, and will guide the same during its down- Ward movement under the action of the plunger, so that there is no possibility of its turning in the slide to become wedged therein and clogging the machine. urthermore, another staple cannot be fed 1nto the slide until the first staple has been removed therefrom.

In assembling, the feeding and straightening mechanism is connected to the bar or rail 12 and the plunger connected between the fingers 53 by the pin 55. The top of the plunger is then inserted in its, guideway from the bottom, and the bar 12 with the feeding and straightening mechanism mounted thereon, is inserted in the opening at the lower part of the casing and secured therein by any suitable means. The spring 57 may then be placed on the plunger and the knob 59 secured to the upper end of the plunger. The entire mechanism is then attached to the base between the ears 11.

Having thus set forth the nature of my' invention, what I claim is:

1. In a stapling machine, in combination, staple strip feeding means, staple severing and driving means, and means for engaging and holding the foremost staple on the strip comprising a pivoted member having downwardly' directed fingers, and means operated by the severing and driving means for removing said fingers from staple holding position.

2..In a stapling machine, in combination, staple strip feeding means, a reciprocating plunger for severing and driving the individual staples and provided with a recess, means for straightening and holding the foremost staple on a strip comprising a member having downwardly directed fingers, and a lifting slide mounted to reciprocate on said member and adapted to cooperate with the recess in the plunger to move said fingers in one direction.

3. In a stapling machine, in combination, staple stripfeeding means, a reciprocatingplunger for severing and driving the individual staples, means for straightening and holding the foremost staple on the strip against turning during the severing operation comprising a memberv having downwardly directed fingers, cooperating means on the plunger and member for shifting the fingers in one direction, and separate means for shifting the said fingers in the opposite direction. V

4. In a stapling machine, in combination, a staple strip supporting bar, staple strip feeding means, a reciprocating plunger for severing and driving the individual staples provided with shoulders, a staple straightening and holding means adaptedto engage the foremost staple on the strip, a yielding slide carried by said means and adapted to engage the shoulders to shift the said 'means 5. In a stapling machine, in combination, a staple strip supporting bar, staple strip feeding means, a reciprocating plunger for severing and driving the individual staples provided with recesses, a staple straighteningand holding means adapted to engage the foremost staple on the strip comprising a member extending above the strip and pivoted to the bar, and a lifting member mounted to slide on said member and adapted to enter the recesses in the plunger when-it is in its lowest position to shift the holding means from operative position on upward movement of the plunger.

6. In a stapling machine, in combination, staple strip feeding means, a staple straightening and holding means adapted to engage the foremost staple on a strip and comprising a pivoted member having downwardly extending fingers to engage said staple, and a spring for forcing said fingers downwardly between the foremost staple and the next adjacent staple.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

JOHN MU TH. 

